General instructions for post operative patients after eye surgery

Eye shield:

A. Use an eye shield for protection when you sleep.

B. Use dark glasses or white glasses as per doctor's advice during daytime.

C. Wash the eye shield and glasses with soap and water each day and dry the same before use.

Cleaning of the face:

A. Cleaning of the operated eye will be as per the instructions given by the doctor/ nurse.

B. The rest of the face can be wiped with a clean and wet cloth.

C. Avoid splashing water into the operated eye.

Shaving:

Shaving is permitted. But avoid splashing water after shaving. Instead, clean with a wet clothes.

Bathing:

A. You can bathe below neck from the first postoperative day itself.

B. Avoid head bath or washing the face for a period of 3-4 weeks and VR surgery for six weeks.

Use of facial cosmetics:

Avoid cosmetics to the eye such as mascara, eye liners etc for at least 4 weeks.

Physical activity:

A. Activities such as walking, climbing steps, talking, TV viewing can be resumed immediately after surgery.

B. Avoid Jogging, swimming, gardening, contact sports, etc for 4-6 weeks after surgery.

C. Avoid driving till your surgeon gives you permission.

D. You may resume your sexual life a week or two after the surgery.

Procedure for cleaning the eye:

A. The operated eye needs to be cleaned at least twice a day as per the video instruction.

B. The person who is performing this task should wash their hands with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel.

C. You may use the disposable sterile tissue/Sterile wet tissue supplied at the hospital for this purpose.

E. Cleaning the lower lid is done by asking the patient to look up and wiping all the secretions sticking to the lower lid margin from inner canthus to outer canthus.

F. Cleaning the upper lid is done by asking the patient to look down and doing a similar procedure.

G. Once the margins and corners are cleaned, the eye drops can be instilled and then the surrounding areas can also be cleaned.

Instillation of the eye drops:

A. Wash hands with soap and water.

B. The cap of the eyedropper bottle is opened carefully without contaminating the tip of the nozzle.

C. Pull the lower lid and place the drop between the eyeball and the lid by squeezing the bottle or cap as the case may be.

D. Wipe away excess medicine that may trickle out, with sterile tissue which is provided by the hospital.

E. The eyes should be kept closed for a period of 5 minutes after the drop is instilled.

Procedure for instilling eye ointment:

A. Wash hands by following all the steps.

B. Gently pull the lower lid down.

C. The tube containing the ointment is squeezed gently so that a small thread of the ointment falls in the space between the eyeball and the lid. This should be not more than half a centimeter.

D. Advise the patient to to close the eye for one to two minutes.

Instructions for instilling medicine in the eye:

A. Always instill drops before the ointment.

B. If you need to apply both the eye drop and ointment, you should apply the eye drop first. Wait for at least 5 minutes before applying the eye ointment.

C. If you need to apply more than one eye ointment, wait for at least 10 minutes before applying the next eye ointment.

D. Keep the eye closed for two to five minutes after applying the medication.

E. Once opened the eye drops mention the date and time, use medication as per manufacture recommendation.

F. Once the eye drops or ointments are opened, close them immediately.

G. Make sure that the right drops are being used for the right number of times as per doctor's prescription.

H. If similar medication is advised for both eyes, it is advisable to have separate bottles for the two eyes.

I. Unused eye medication, once opened, is discarded.

General instructions:

A. Do not rub the eyes

B. Do not lift heavy weights

C. Avoid any eye injury, protect the eye with an eye shield.

D. Avoid too many visitors.

E. Avoids visitors with any infection, especially with conjunctivitis.

F. Avoid playing with children.

G. Do not strain for the toilet. Laxative can be taken with doctors' proscription.

H. Avoid use of snuffing, cigarettes, smoking, alcoholic beverages.

I. No specific diet restrictions.

J. Avoid air travel for a minimum of two months or as instructed by your surgeon.if gas has been injected into your eyes as part of the treatment.

K. You should maintain a head down/prone position after retinal detachment surgery, if silicon oil or gas bubble has been placed inside the operated eye.

Pediatric Patients:

A. Playing outdoors games is restricted for at least two weeks.

B. Child is permitted to join regular school with a doctor' fitness certificate.

Joining back duties:

Usually, you will be allowed to join your duties by 4-6 weeks after surgery depending upon the surgery. You may have to check with your doctor regards to the exact date of joining duty.

The following symptoms may be expected after most surgeries:

Some amount of redness, watering, foreign body sensation, and glare are common. The severity varies with the type of surgery. These symptoms will reduce with time and usually disappear by 4-6 weeks.

If you have any worsening of the symptoms and specifically if there is increasing redness, pain or decreased vision please report as emergency to the Sankara Nethralaya premises at 18, college Road, Nungambakkam.

Emergency Services are Available Round The Clock